The Mayans were a highly developed people that thrived during the first thousand year AD in the Yucatan and what is now present day Mexico. The Mayans were originally nomadic people who finally were able to settle and build their legacy when they began growing and harvesting corn; corn, and corn meal would also play a large role in their creation story as it was believed that the gods birthed the true race from corn and corn meal to make their body. While the Mayans had many things in common with other societies of their time, they were far more peaceful than say the Aztecs and by far one of the most artistic. Mayans, being the skilled artisans that they were, incorporated art into most things they did in their lives, displaying the ability to make things beautiful a sort of quality the Spanish and other conquering groups would try to rob them of in future years.
One of the Mayans greatest calls to fame, or societal advancement in our instance, was their ability to create artistically incredible structures to fit their functional and spiritual needs. These Mayans did not simply build large pyramids without metal tools, but also did so with such precision so that the sun could hit one part of the structure, travel through a carefully planned opening and light an entire interior space. The Maya also created lavish temples to their gods and those buildings would not only house their beloved gods but would serve in many religious services and events. The Mayans achievement in the area of architecture only goes to show their superior knowledge some of the most advanced principles of structure including the corbel arch, and the fact that they did all this with the use of the wheel, metal tools or even beasts of burden is quite amazing as they furnished a large portion of land with buildings, palaces, and temple-pyramids built with an amazing degree of architectural perfection and variety.
The Mayans were also astounding masons, creating stone tablets or Stelae, which they used to document everything from religious ceremonies to creating their sophisticated writing system. The Mayans would use their ability to manipulate stone to create lavish paintings and carvings on temples for Kings and other peoples of power. They used their skills to create shrines to gods and remembrances of religious ceremonies. One of the most incredible Mayan artistic creations is the hieroglyphic stairway at Copan. The stairway is comprised of statues, figures and ramps leading up to the stairway where several elements of Mayan society are portrayed. There are also depictions of sacrifice and references to gods are made. Also there are illustrations a bloodletting ceremony were a figure of power, perceived by his dressings and adornments, is on his accession to kingship.
The Mayans also carved ideas into stone and pottery, from their findings of the zero to their calendar; they used images of animals and gods in everyday life. Also art can be found in the thing that we use everyday, writing. The Mayans used figures and images instead of letters in their complex writing system; hieroglyphics. One of the most incredible Mayan artistic creations is the hieroglyphic stairway at Copan. The stairway is comprised of statues, figures and ramps leading up to the stairway where several elements of Mayan society are portrayed. There are also depictions of sacrifice and references to gods are made. Also there are illustrations a bloodletting ceremony were a figure of power, perceived by his dressings and adornments, is on his accession to kingship.
From their architecture, to their writing system the Mayans were quite sophisticated in their applications of art and creativity. Their ability to grasp complex ideas like the idea of nothing, or the zero in their mathematics combined with their dedication to perfection as displayed in their architecture make the Mayans one the most interesting and advanced societies of the Pre-Columbian era.
Source Citations:
http://cybersleuth-kids.com/sleuth/History/Ancient_Civilizations/Mayans/
http://home.echo-on.net/~smithda/mayans.html
http://www.historylink101.com/1/mayan/ancient_mayan.htm
Project 2 Part B
I’m a local Mayan artisan, living with my wife and aging mother.
As a young boy my father taught me my craft and both my parents instilled in me the beliefs of my people. Today I create ornate vases for my King upon his request. My vases are not just vases but have great meaning in their shape, the images I paint and carve into them and from the substances I make them of. My day is generally filled with casting my vases and toiling with my tools under the hot mid day sun. While I work at creating vases, my wife works the fields, and tends to our home, being sure that there is corn to fill our stomachs. While I spend the majority of my time working with my trade on occasion I’m commanded to help build temples in the King’s honor and I dare not refuse, as I might become the next sacrifice to the gods I paint on those beautiful vases. So I comply, and spend some days toasting in the hot sun barely able to find my way home by the moon’s light after a tedious day’s work. When I finally arrive home I eat what I can, sleep and rise early to do it all over again.